China’s Two Sessions: what are the meetings and why do they matter?

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 2 min read 100% complete by Amy Hawkins Senior China correspondentMarch 4, 2026 at 12:50 AM

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China's annual Two Sessions meetings, involving the National People's Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), convene in Beijing this week. Thousands of delegates gather to ratify legislation, personnel changes, and the budget. The NPC acts as the legislative body, while the CPPCC serves in an advisory role. Key events include work reports and the setting of economic targets and military budgets. This year's focus is on the 15th five-year plan (2026-2030), emphasizing boosting domestic demand and technological advancement to reduce economic reliance on the US. The meetings occur amidst a shakeup in the People's Liberation Army (PLA) leadership due to corruption investigations.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Yao Ming 30% Jackie Chan 30% People's Liberation Army (PLA) 50% United States ×250% Hong Kong ×260% Xi Jinping ×270% Beijing ×270% Chinese Communist Party (CCP) ×275% Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) ×280% National People's Congress (NPC) ×385% China ×590% Two Sessions ×695%

Keywords

two sessions 100% china 90% national people's congress 70% 15th five-year plan 70% economic planning 60% chinese people's political consultative conference 60% technology 50% domestic demand 50% artificial intelligence 40% military budget 40%